Russian PM warns against foreign ground action in Syria

MUNICH, Feb 12 (AP) — Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has warned other nations against committing their troops to a ground action in Syria, saying it would only exacerbate the conflict.

Medvedev, speaking in an interview with the German newspaper Handelsblatt, the text of which was released by his office Friday, said "a ground operation draws everyone taking part in it into a war."

Commenting on a Saudi proposal to send troops to Syria and the possibility of U.S. involvement in ground action, Medvedev said there wouldn't be a quick victory, rather a "permanent war." He reaffirmed that Russia, which has conducted air campaign in Syria since Sept. 30, has no intention to engage in ground action.

Medvedev said the conflict must be resolved through talks, not by opening another front in the war.

(This story has been corrected to remove reference to "a new world war", which was a mistranslation)